Bayan to mark Valentine’s Day with anti-Arroyo noise barrage, Calls DOJ, ombudsman response to corruption “a sham”

News Release
February 13, 2008

The Arroyo regime is taking its mockery of truth and justice to a higher level by asking its minions to “investigate” the $329-million national broadband network (NBN) corruption scandal and to “stamp out corruption in government”, umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said.

And as the anticipated anti-Arroyo rally on Friday draws near, Bayan and its allied militant organizations will mark Valentine’s Day with a noise barrage in various areas in Manila and Quezon City as build-up protest action. The noise barrage is expected to stretch from Morayta, España Avenue up to Welcome Rotonda. Noise barrage centers will also be set up at Philcoa in Quezon City.

Bayan scoffed at the separate initiatives announced by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman to look into the botched NBN deal with China’s ZTE Corp. which has been exposed as overpriced. Gloria Arroyo has also ordered two Cabinet task forces to draft reforms that will address graft and corruption.

“It’s so obvious that these moves are only meant to counter the bad publicity created by the ongoing Senate inquiry on the NBN contract and Lozada’s abduction by Malacañang people. Worse, the sham investigations by the DOJ and Ombudsman could also be part of a well-orchestrated ploy to further harass and discredit Lozada”, Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said.

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation have reportedly “raided” the former office of Lozada at the Philippine Forest Corporation.

The Bayan leader said that the NBN probe by the DOJ and Ombudsman provides “the legal mantle for the ultimate cover-up” of the multi-billion dollar scam that involves First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Benjamin Abalos.

“Do we really expect rabid Arroyo cheerleader (DOJ secretary) Raul Gonzales and close Arroyo friend (Ombudsman) Merceditas Gutierrez to have the moral fiber to really find out the truth and serve justice?”, said Reyes.

The group added that with a long list of high-profile scams involving the uppermost levels of the bureaucracy, the Arroyo regime has totally lost its credibility and legitimacy to implement reforms to curb corruption. “Corruption is so chronic and systemic in this government that the only way we can move forward in the fight against corruption is through a regime change”, Reyes declared.

Bayan vowed to step up its campaign to oust Arroyo and to fight for truth and justice.

(END)